Woman accused of embezzling $166K to face jury trial

AUGUSTA, Maine — The former bookkeeper for the Maine Trial Lawyers Association accused of embezzling $166,000 from the organization is scheduled to go to trial next month.

Bettysue Higgins, 54, of Gardiner made an appearance Monday in Kennebec County Superior Court for a hearing that was expected to resolve the charges of forgery and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

Higgins is accused of embezzling the money between May 2006 and September 2010 by writing 220 association checks to herself or cash and forging the signature of the executive director. Authorities say she used the money for personal use, including for online gaming.

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Higgins had worked in the two-person Augusta office of the lawyers’ group for eight years.